Breaking free after incubatingfor
Wildlife Refuge. Hatchlings take to the
more than a month, a nascent bird
water within 48 hours and are quickly
struggles to escape the shell, shown here
coaxed away from the nest (below).
life-size (above). With its pink foot
The first weeks of life are perilous.
clamped over its head and eye opened,
Some perishfrom predatorsand
the bird pecks away to rid itself of the
accidentaltramplingby parents. Others
shell, a tedious process that can
diefrom entanglement in vegetation and
take 24 hours. Only days old, a
starvation.Cygnets feed mainly on
cygnet gains a better vantagepoint
snails, insects, shrimp, and other aquatic
for a look at its world (left). Its
life. Becoming more vegetarianas they
parent stands guard in Kenai National
mature, they prefer tender aquaticplants.
The Triumphant Trumpeter Swan
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